JP2004246787A - Information processor and method for controlling program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of accelerating the start of a program for an operating system or the like and to provide a method for controlling the program. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor 10 is provided with a loading means for loading a program from an HDD 14 to a RAM 13 and boot loader used also as a saving means for saving data from the RAM 13 to the HDD 14. The boot loader saves the cluster chain information of data to be saved in the HDD 14 and executes the loading of the program by referring to the cluster chain information 20. The boot loader switches the loading processing to loading processing referring to a file allocation table in accordance with the presence or absence of updating of the program or a fragment state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that performs various types of information processing based on a program such as an operating system, and a program control method using such an information processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Computers currently in widespread use are referred to as an operating system (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as an OS) such as Windows (registered trademark) CE (Windows (registered trademark) is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation). Basic programs are installed, and various software (programs) are usually formed to operate in accordance with the OS. When such a computer is started up, the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) copies the boot loader to the RAM and starts it, and the boot loader loads the OS image file stored on the hard disk into the RAM, thereby starting the OS. Operable.
[0003]
The loading process of an OS image by a conventional boot loader is executed by referring to a file allocation table (FAT). However, the load processing referring to the FAT cannot be executed at a high speed because of the amount of data to be referred to, and thus has been a factor that hinders a reduction in the boot time of the OS.
[0004]
An invention for improving such a situation includes, for example, a program control method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 below. The program control method is configured to cause a loader that normally only performs a startup process (boot) to perform an OS termination process. More specifically, a file containing data necessary for the next startup, such as parameters of each part of the computer, the entry address of the OS, and cluster chain information of the OS image file during the startup of the OS (referred to as a context in this document) ) Is created, and the loading process is performed by referring to the file at the next startup.
[0005]
Further, the information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is capable of managing the contents of the RAM when the power is turned off and terminating the processing by the OS (in the document, the file is called a snapshot (file)). ) And load this snapshot into the RAM when the OS is started.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-82808 (paragraphs [0030], [0035] and [0036], FIG. 2)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Publication No. WO00 / 54133 (pages 18-19, Fig. 2)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in these conventional inventions, the FAT must always be referred to when acquiring the cluster chain information of the OS, so that a fundamental solution on the theme of speeding up the startup of the OS has been reached. I have to say that there isn't.
[0008]
The present invention has been devised to overcome such a situation, and an information processing apparatus and a program control method capable of realizing faster startup of a program such as an OS by reducing access to a FAT. Its purpose is to provide a method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a hard disk drive for storing various programs, and volatile storage means for storing data developed when the programs are executed, An information processing apparatus capable of loading the program stored in the hard disk drive into the volatile storage unit with reference to a table, wherein the data stored in the volatile storage unit; A save unit that saves, in the hard disk drive, cluster chain information indicating a position where each cluster chain of data is stored in the hard disk drive; and referring to the cluster chain information saved by the save unit, the hard disk drive The program stored in the drive The characterized in that it and a loading means for loading into the volatile storage means.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a program forming an operating system is stored in the hard disk drive, and Saves, as a first file, data stored in a first storage area of the volatile storage unit, into which a program forming the operating system is loaded by the loading unit, in the hard disk drive; Data stored in a second storage area consisting of a storage area of the volatile storage means excluding the first storage area is saved as a second file in the hard disk drive, and the cluster of the first file is saved. The chain information and the cluster chain information of the second file The load means includes the second file and saves the data on the hard disk drive, and the loading means refers to the cluster chain information of the first file and the cluster chain information of the second file to read the operating system. Is loaded into the volatile storage means.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loading means refers to the program by referring to the cluster chain information. Switching means for switching between loading into the volatile storage means and loading into the volatile storage means with reference to the file allocation table.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cluster chain information of the data indicates a position where the data is stored in the hard disk drive. The first position information, and second position information relating to a file allocation table corresponding to the first position information, wherein the loading means stores the second position information and the data in the hard disk drive. And a file allocation table indicating a position actually stored in the data storage unit. The first determination unit determines whether or not the file allocation table is the same for each cluster chain of the data. The second location information is determined to be the same as the file allocation table indicating the actually stored location. The cluster chain is loaded into the volatile storage unit with reference to the first position information, and the first position information is stored in the volatile storage unit by the first determination unit. The cluster chain determined to be different from the indicated file allocation table is loaded into the volatile storage unit with reference to the file allocation table indicating the actually stored position.
[0013]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the save unit stores each cluster chain of the data stored in the volatile storage unit. A second determining means for determining whether or not the capacity of the cluster chain is larger than a predetermined capacity. For the cluster chain determined to have a capacity larger than the predetermined capacity by the second determining means, Saving predetermined information in the hard disk drive, and saving the cluster chain information in the hard disk drive for the cluster chain determined to have a capacity not exceeding the predetermined capacity by the second determination means. And the loading means, for the cluster chain in which the predetermined information has been saved by the saving means, The cluster chain in which the cluster chain information is saved by the save unit by referring to the allocation table with reference to the allocation table is loaded into the volatile storage unit by referring to the cluster chain information. , Is characterized.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 6 includes a step of storing various programs in a hard disk drive, and storing data developed when the programs are executed in a volatile storage unit. Wherein the data stored in the volatile storage means and cluster chain information indicating a position where each cluster chain of the data is stored in the hard disk drive are saved in the hard disk drive. A loading step of loading the program stored in the hard disk drive into the volatile storage unit with reference to the cluster chain information saved in the saving step. I do.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016]
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus (computer) 10 according to the present invention. The information processing apparatus 10 is mainly configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the entire apparatus.
[0018]
The information processing apparatus 10 includes storage devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a hard disk drive (hereinafter, simply referred to as an HDD) 14, and the like. The ROM 12 stores data for the CPU 11 such as a boot loader for starting the OS to execute various processes. The RAM 13 is a main storage device of the information processing device 10 and stores data that is developed when the program is executed. Further, the HDD 14 stores various programs (files) such as an OS image file and an application file.
[0019]
The access unit of the HDD 14 is called a cluster, and the cluster is composed of a predetermined number of continuous sectors. The file is stored divided into a plurality of clusters, and the file can be accessed by referring to a map that is usually called a file allocation table (FAT) and provides position information of each cluster.
[0020]
As in the case of the FAT, the information indicating the cluster position information includes cluster chain information which is a feature of the present invention (details will be described later). This cluster chain information is created in units of continuous portions of clusters in which files are stored, and includes information indicating the position of each cluster included in each cluster chain. When referring to the cluster chain information, it is possible to read a cluster chain composed of a plurality of clusters at a time, so that the reading can be performed at a higher speed than in the FAT that requires reading each cluster one by one.
[0021]
Further, the information processing apparatus 10 is provided with a user interface such as a display unit for displaying an image and an input unit for a user to input an operation or the like. The display means includes a video controller 15 that controls output of image data, and a display 16 that displays an image based on the image data output from the video controller 15. As the input means, an input device 17 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like is connected.
[0022]
Next, a usage mode of the information processing apparatus 10 having the above hardware configuration will be described.
[0023]
When a power switch (not shown) of the information processing apparatus 10 is turned on and the power is turned on, the BIOS is started, a boot loader (also simply referred to as a loader) stored in the ROM 12 is copied to the RAM 13, and the boot loader is started. . Hereinafter, the loading process (loader process) of the OS image by the boot loader will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The boot loader and the CPU 11 (hereinafter, also referred to as a boot loader or the like) constitute the "load means", the "save means", the "switching means", and the "first determination means" in the present invention, respectively.
[0024]
Although the details of the “snapshot file” appearing below will be described later, a cluster chain information storage area is formed at the beginning of the snapshot file, and cluster chain information is stored in the area. The description of the use state will be continued assuming that it is. The cluster chain information referred to here includes the cluster chain information of the OS image file and the cluster chain information of the snapshot file.
[0025]
First, the boot loader or the like transfers the FAT file from the HDD 14 to the RAM (S1), and determines whether the snapshot file is stored in the HDD 14 (S2). If the snapshot file exists (S2; Y), the boot loader or the like accesses the cluster chain information storage area of the snapshot file and recognizes the presence or absence of the contents of the area, so that the cluster chain information is recorded. It is determined whether or not it is (S3). (S2; Y) means that “Y” was selected in S2 (the same applies hereinafter).
[0026]
If the cluster chain information is recorded (S3; Y), the cluster chain information is transferred to the RAM 13 according to the FAT file access rule, that is, referring to the FAT (S4). Then, the boot loader or the like compares the cluster chain information transferred to the RAM 13 with the FAT, and determines whether the FAT has been updated, that is, whether the file to be loaded (OS image file) has been updated. A determination is made (S5). Details of this collation processing will be described later.
[0027]
When the boot loader or the like determines that the FAT has not been updated (S5; N), the OS image is transferred from the HDD 14 to the RAM 13 with reference to the cluster chain information of the OS image file on the RAM 13 (S6). The snapshot file is transferred from the HDD 14 to the RAM 13 with reference to the cluster chain information of the snapshot file (S7). Then, the process jumps to the entry point of the OS (S11), starts the OS (S12), and ends the loader process. The above flow is referred to as a first process.
[0028]
Next, as a second process, a loader process in the case where it is determined that the FAT has been updated by the boot loader or the like (S5; Y) in the step of comparing and determining the cluster chain information and the FAT will be described.
[0029]
If it is determined that the FAT has been updated (S5; Y), the updated FAT is overwritten in the cluster chain information storage area as new cluster chain information (S8), and the OS image is copied according to the FAT file access rule. The data is transferred to the RAM 13 (S10), the CPU jumps to the entry point of the OS (S11), starts the OS (S12), and ends the loader processing.
[0030]
Also, as a third process, a loader process when the boot loader or the like determines that the cluster chain information is not recorded in the cluster chain information storage area of the snapshot file (S3; N) will be described.
[0031]
If it is determined that cluster chain information is not recorded in the cluster chain information storage area (S3; N), the snapshot file is transferred to the RAM 13 according to the FAT file access rule (S9), and the OS image is transferred to the RAM 13. (S10). Then, the process jumps to the entry point of the OS (S11), starts the OS (S12), and ends the loader process.
[0032]
Finally, the fourth process will be described. The fourth process corresponds to a case where no snapshot file exists in the HDD 14 (S2; N), for example, at the time of the first startup. In this case, the boot loader or the like transfers the OS image to the RAM 13 according to the FAT file access rule (S10), jumps to the entry point of the OS (S11), starts the OS (S12), and ends the loader process.
[0033]
(Snapshot file)
Here, the details of the snapshot file occupying an important position in the above-mentioned usage form of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The snapshot file is a file including data called “snapshot” in a format that can be managed by the OS.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for creating a snapshot file. In the following description, the snapshot file is created in the end processing of the OS. However, the creation processing is executed at another timing, for example, at an arbitrary time when the OS image is expanded in the RAM 13. You may.
[0035]
When there is a request to end the OS, for example, by clicking an end button (not shown) for selecting the end of the OS (S21), the boot loader checks an area of the RAM 13 to be snapshot (snapshot target area) (S21). S22).
[0036]
At this time, if the data structure on the RAM 13 is divided into an area for storing the OS image (first storage area) and an area for storing data other than the OS image (second storage area), the snapshot The target area corresponds to the second storage area. Therefore, here, data other than the OS image is referred to as snapshot target data. The snapshot target data includes data necessary for the next boot of the OS, such as parameters of the RAM 13 and the HDD 14, the entry address of the OS, parameters to be passed to the OS, and cluster chain information of the OS image file.
[0037]
Hereinafter, the OS image and the snapshot target data stored in the RAM 13 will be collectively referred to as RAM data.
[0038]
In Windows (registered trademark) CE, the OS image on the RAM 13 is developed by forming a single area, so that it is easy to specify the snapshot target area.
[0039]
When the snapshot target area is specified by the investigation, the boot loader creates and stores cluster chain information of the RAM data (S23), and saves the RAM data in the HDD 14 (S24). At this time, the OS image is saved as an OS image file (first file), and the data to be snapshot is saved as a snapshot file (second file). In addition, a predetermined free area is formed at the beginning of the snapshot file.
[0040]
When the saving of the RAM data is completed, the boot loader writes the cluster chain information of the RAM data created in S23 into the empty area formed in S24 (S25). As described above, the snapshot file creation processing is completed, and the OS is terminated through normal OS termination processing.
[0041]
At the beginning of the snapshot file generated by such a process, cluster chain information of RAM data, that is, cluster chain information of the OS image file and cluster chain information of the snapshot file are stored at the beginning. The cluster chain information is created for each continuous cluster chain. The free area corresponds to the cluster chain information storage area in the description of FIG.
[0042]
Next, the configuration of the cluster chain information will be described. The cluster chain information includes one data entry indicating a relationship between data indicating one continuous cluster chain and data corresponding to the cluster chain in the FAT.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows cluster chain information 20 of a certain cluster chain of the RAM data. The cluster chain information 20 includes a leading sector address 21 and the number of consecutive sectors 22 as data (first position information) relating to the cluster chain, and FAT verification data as data relating to the FAT (second position information). It includes a sector address 23, the number of consecutive sectors 24 of the FAT, the offset 25 of the head word of the FAT, size information 26, and checksum information 27.
[0044]
The first sector address 21 stores the first sector address of the cluster chain. The number of continuous sectors 22 stores the number of continuous sectors in the cluster chain.
[0045]
In the FAT verifying sector address 23, a sector address in the first FAT of the cluster chain is stored. The number of continuous sectors 24 of the FAT stores the number of continuous sectors in the FAT. The offset (distance) from the start of verification of the FAT is stored in the offset 25 of the head word of the FAT. Here, “verify” means a process of matching the cluster chain with the FAT.
[0046]
Further, the size information 26 compares the data on the FAT included in the cluster chain information 20 with the data on the cluster chain included in the FAT file indicating the actual position information of the OS image file, and compares them with each other. (See S5 in FIG. 2) for determining the number of words is stored. The checksum information 27 stores the result of the checksum calculation. In the present embodiment, the checksum is used for matching between the cluster chain and the FAT. However, in general, the matching process can be performed using a cyclic code product-sum operation.
[0047]
The collation processing of the cluster chain information with the FAT file by the checksum is performed by comparing the checksum information 27 with the result of the cyclic code multiply-add operation of the data corresponding to the cluster chain in the FAT file in word units. . As a result of the comparison, if they match, the leading sector address 21 and the number of consecutive sectors 22 are validated, and reading is performed with reference to the cluster chain information 20 (corresponding to the case where N in S5 in FIG. 2 is selected). Do). On the other hand, when a result of mismatch is obtained, the updated FAT is overwritten as new cluster chain information (S8 in FIG. 2), and reading is performed with reference to the FAT (Y in S5 in FIG. 2 is selected). If you do).
[0048]
This collation processing is executed by viewing the data in the FAT file read in advance as a memory and comparing the contents of the cluster chains arranged at a predetermined offset (distance) at high speed. Such high-speed processing avoids an unstable operation when the contents of the FAT are updated.
[0049]
Further, as shown in S24 of FIG. 3, when creating a snapshot file, an empty area is formed at the head thereof. This free space has a certain predetermined capacity. In the present embodiment, a desired number of cluster chain information 20 are arranged in the free space, and the entity recorded on the hard disk drive 14 when reading / writing the target file by referring to the array of the cluster chain information 20 is referred to. As a result, simplification and speeding up of arithmetic processing for determining the head position, length, and reading order of data are realized. Specifically, each cluster chain information 20 has a capacity of 28 bytes, 8 bytes for the first sector address 21, 2 bytes for the number of continuous sectors 22, 8 bytes for the sector address 23 for FAT verification, and the number of continuous sectors of the FAT. 24, 2 bytes are assigned to the offset 25 of the first word of the FAT, 2 bytes are assigned to the size information 26, and 4 bytes are assigned to the checksum information 27. The capacity of the free area is appropriately set in consideration of the fragment state of the saved RAM data and the capacity of each cluster chain information. Of course, the capacity of each cluster chain information does not need to be 28 bytes, and the capacity of each piece of information constituting the cluster chain information does not need to be as described above.
[0050]
(Action)
Hereinafter, an operation performed by the information processing apparatus 10 will be described.
[0051]
In the first process in the description of FIG. 2, the reference to the FAT is suppressed as much as possible. In particular, since the loading process of the OS image and the snapshot file is performed by referring to the cluster chain information, the loader process is speeded up. Is realized. (In a test using Windows (registered trademark) CE, the loader processing time was reduced by about 2 seconds, to about 10 seconds for FAT reference and about 8 seconds for the first process.)
[0052]
In the second process, the third process, and the fourth process, since the OS image is loaded only according to the FAT file access rule as in the related art, the loader processing time cannot be reduced.
[0053]
Therefore, it is preferable that the first process be performed as much as possible. For example, at the time of the first OS termination (immediately after purchase, etc.), a process of creating a snapshot file in which cluster chain information shown in FIG. 3 is written is executed, and the second startup refers to this cluster chain information. Do it. Thereafter, the cluster chain information shown in S8 of FIG. 2 is overwritten, and the process shown in FIG. 3 is executed at the end of each process.
[0054]
Therefore, in almost all sections where the OS image is loaded by referring to the FAT in the past, it is possible to execute direct disk access by referring to the cluster chain information. Is possible. Also, loading of a snapshot file containing data necessary for booting the OS can be similarly performed with reference to the cluster chain information, and the booting can be further speeded up.
[0055]
In particular, when Windows (registered trademark) CE is used as the OS, the arrangement of the OS image file in the HDD 14 is fixed, and the use of a fixed file is also recommended for the snapshot file. It is possible to achieve a high-speed booting of the OS.
[0056]
Also, if the snapshot file is set as a fixed file, even when the cluster information is overwritten in S8 of FIG. 2, the data can be updated by direct disk access without referring to the FAT. Can be accelerated.
[0057]
Further, according to the information processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to switch between high-speed processing referring to cluster chain information and normal processing referring to FAT for each cluster chain. Switching corresponding to the presence / absence of a snapshot file (S2 in FIG. 2) and the presence / absence of cluster chain information (S3 in FIG. 2) is natural, but as shown in S5 in FIG. Since the processing can be switched to the processing referred to, the loader processing can be shortened and stabilized.
[0058]
[Second embodiment]
A second embodiment of the present invention described below is obtained by adding one function to the information processing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. Therefore, only the points of the added functions will be described.
[0059]
The information processing apparatus 10 is configured to create a snapshot file having a free space of a predetermined capacity at the head when the OS is terminated. However, when there is a large fragment in the RAM data, the corresponding cluster chain information may exceed the predetermined capacity. The present embodiment provides a function for dealing with such a case.
[0060]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a loader process by the boot loader and the CPU 11 (also referred to as a boot loader or the like) at the time of termination of the OS for realizing the above function. The loader processing shown in the figure is an alternative to the loader processing shown in FIG. 3, and the same steps as those in the loader processing shown in FIG. Note that the boot loader and the like according to the present embodiment also constitute the “second determining means” of the present invention.
[0061]
When there is an OS termination request (S21), the boot loader or the like checks the snapshot target area (S22). When the examination of the snapshot target area is completed, the boot loader or the like examines the state of the fragment of the saved RAM data, and determines whether there is a part where the fragment is large partially or entirely (S31).
[0062]
If there is no large fragment (S31; N), the boot loader creates and stores the cluster chain information of the RAM data as in the case of the first embodiment (S23), and saves the RAM data in the HDD 14. (A free area of a predetermined capacity is formed at the beginning of the snapshot file) (S24), cluster chain information is written in the free area (S40), and the OS is terminated through normal OS termination processing. You.
[0063]
On the other hand, when there is a location where the fragment is large (S31; Y), for the location where the fragment is large, instead of the cluster chain information, invalid information indicating that the cluster chain information is invalid, Is stored (S32). At the same time, the cluster chain information is created and stored for the portion where the fragment is not determined to be large (S33). The invalid information and the number of clusters define "predetermined information" of the present invention.
[0064]
The boot loader or the like stores the invalid information and the number of clusters (hereinafter, also referred to as invalid information and the like) at the location where the fragment is determined to be large, and the cluster chain information at the location where the fragment is not determined to be large, and then stores the RAM in the RAM. The data is saved (S24), and finally, the invalid information and the like and the cluster chain information are written in the free space at the head of the snapshot file (S40), and the OS is terminated through normal OS termination processing.
[0065]
The criterion for determining whether or not the fragment is large in S31 can be set arbitrarily. For example, a section in which the cluster chain information 20 in which the number of consecutive sectors 24 of the FAT included in the cluster chain information 20 in the first embodiment is dwarf or more continuously appears for a certain number or more is “a location where the fragment is large”. , And replacing the invalid information with the invalid number of clusters for recording, it is possible to efficiently record only the cluster chain information 20 that contributes to speeding up.
[0066]
By creating a snapshot file having such a configuration, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of cluster chain information shown in S3 of FIG. More specifically, when cluster chain information is written (S3; Y), reading is performed with reference to the data, while when invalid information and the number of clusters are written (S3; N), Can perform the switching process so that the high-speed process referring to the cluster chain information is invalidated and the process referring to the FAT is executed.
[0067]
In addition, while performing high-speed processing with reference to cluster chain information, it is possible to switch to processing with reference to the FAT only at a location where a fragment is large, so that both high-speed and stable processing can be improved. It becomes possible to plan.
[0068]
The embodiment described in detail above merely discloses an example of a specific configuration for carrying out the present invention, and does not provide a requirement for limiting and understanding the gist of the present invention. Absent.
[0069]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the startup of a program such as an OS is executed by direct disk access with reference to the cluster chain information, so that the startup of the program can be sped up, so that the startup time can be reduced. Becomes possible.
[0070]
Further, since the cluster chain information and the FAT can be switched and referred to in accordance with the presence / absence of the update of the FAT of the program and the fragment state, it is possible to increase the speed while ensuring the stability of the startup processing. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the operating system of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment is started.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the operating system of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment is terminated.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration of cluster chain information created by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the operating system of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention ends.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Information processing device
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Hard Disk Drive
20 Cluster chain information

Claims (6)

A hard disk drive for storing various programs,
Volatile storage means for storing data developed at the time of execution of the program,
An information processing device capable of loading the program stored in the hard disk drive into the volatile storage unit with reference to a file allocation table,
Saving means for saving the data stored in the volatile storage means and cluster chain information indicating a position where each cluster chain of the data is stored in the hard disk drive, in the hard disk drive;
Loading means for loading the program stored in the hard disk drive into the volatile storage means with reference to the cluster chain information saved by the saving means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The hard disk drive stores a program forming an operating system,
The saving means,
Saving the data stored in the first storage area of the volatile storage unit, into which the program forming the operating system is loaded by the loading unit, as a first file in the hard disk drive;
Saving data stored in a second storage area including a storage area of the volatile storage unit excluding the first storage area as a second file in the hard disk drive;
Saving the cluster chain information of the first file and the cluster chain information of the second file in the hard disk drive while including the cluster information in the second file;
The loading means,
Referring to the cluster chain information of the first file and the cluster chain information of the second file, loading a program forming the operating system into the volatile storage unit;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Switching means for switching between loading the program into the volatile storage means with reference to the cluster chain information or loading the program into the volatile storage means with reference to the file allocation table The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The cluster chain information of the data includes: first position information indicating a position where the data is stored in the hard disk drive; and second position information regarding a file allocation table corresponding to the first position information. Including
The loading means,
Determining whether the second position information is the same as a file allocation table indicating a position where the data is actually stored in the hard disk drive for each cluster chain of the data; Including means of judgment,
For the cluster chain determined by the first determination means to be the same as the second location information and the file allocation table indicating the actually stored location, the first location information With reference to the volatile storage means,
For the cluster chain determined by the first determination unit to be different from the second location information and the file allocation table indicating the actually stored location, the actually stored location Loading into the volatile storage means with reference to a file allocation table indicating
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The saving means,
A second determination unit configured to determine whether a capacity of each cluster chain of the data stored in the volatile storage unit is larger than a predetermined capacity,
For the cluster chain determined to have a capacity larger than the predetermined capacity by the second determination means, predetermined information is saved in the hard disk drive,
For the cluster chain determined to have a capacity not exceeding the predetermined capacity by the second determination means, save the cluster chain information to the hard disk drive,
The loading means,
Regarding the cluster chain in which the predetermined information has been saved by the saving unit, the cluster chain is loaded into the volatile storage unit with reference to the file allocation table,
For the cluster chain in which the cluster chain information has been saved by the saving unit, refer to the cluster chain information and load the cluster chain into the volatile storage unit.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: Various programs are stored on the hard disk drive,
A program control method by an information processing apparatus, comprising a step of storing data developed at the time of execution of the program in a volatile storage unit,
A save step of saving the data stored in the volatile storage means and cluster chain information indicating a position where each cluster chain of the data is stored in the hard disk drive, in the hard disk drive;
A loading step of loading the program stored in the hard disk drive into the volatile storage unit by referring to the cluster chain information saved in the saving step;
A program control method comprising:

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